Machine for doubling metal plates.



No. 643,690. Patented Feb. 20, |900.

R. R. SPEARS.

MACHINE FOR DUUBLING METAL PLATES.

(Application Sled Jan. 26, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 643,690. Patented Feb. 20, |900. B. R. SPEARS.

MACHINE FR DUUBLINGIETAL PLATES.

(Application led Jan. 28, 1899.)

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No. 643,690. Y Patented Feb. 29,1900.

R. R. SPEARS.

MACHINE FOB DUUBLING METAL PLATES.

(Application led Jan. 26, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

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N0. 643,690. Pa-tenled Feb. 20, i900.

' R. R. SPEARS.

MACHINE FUR DUUBLING METAL PLATES.

(Application Sled Jan. 26, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

(ub model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

RALPH REED SPEARS, OF VHEELING, VEST VIRGINI.

iViACl-iiNE FOR DOUBLING METAL PLATE-Si.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ,Patent No. 643,690, dated February 20, 19O.

Application filed January 26, 1899. Serial No. 703,468. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, RALPH REED SPEARS, a citizen of the United States,residin g at Wheeling, in the county of Ohio and State of West Virginia, have invented a new and useful Machine forDoubling Metal Plates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the art of handling tin and other sheet-metal plates, and has for its object to provide au improved machine for doubling the metal plates, thereby greatly expediting this stepin the process of handling sheet-metal plates.

It is well known to those familiar with the tin-plate industry that ordinarily the proper thickness of the plates for rolling is obtained bydoubling or folding the same,which operation heretofore has been usually accomplished manually and without the aid of a machine, thereby necessarily rendering the work inaccurate,while at the same time causing the single step of doubling the plates to amount to an appreciable item of expense. The present machine is designed for the purpose of obviatiug the objections to the hand process of doubling sheetanetal plates and providing simple and positive mechanism for steadily, quickly, and accuratelyaccomplishing the doubling of the plates.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved doubling-machine which shall accurately fold the plate at a central point, and thereby place the same in the best possible condition for being trimmed by the shears, the shearing or trimming operation being the next step in the process of handling the sheet-metal plates.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and efficient means for presenting the contiguous edges of the folded plate between the blades of the shearing-machine.

With these and other objects in view,which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists. in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

While the' essential and fundamental fea-v tures of the invention are necessarily susceptible to a variety of modiiications, still the preferred embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine for doubling metal plates constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the machine. Fig. 3 is a side view thereof. Fig. 4 is an end view of the same. Fig. 5 is a detail transverse sectional View on the line 5 5 of Fig. l, showing the arrangement of the guides and the manner of mounting the transversely-arranged reciprocatory creasing-bar. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing the position of the supporting-table when advanced to carry the contiguous edges of the folded plate between the blades of the shearing-machine. Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional View on the line 7 7 of Fig. 3, showing the relative arrangement of the hydraulic-pressure cylinders and the controlling-valves therefor. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view of one of the hydraulic-pressure cylinders on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral l designates the stationary base of the machine. This base is preferably of hollow format-ion and of a general rectangular configuration, the same being provided with a horizontal top portion 2, forming a bed to slidably support the work-holding table 3. To provide for the proper slide connection between the table and the base l, the latter is provided at the upper side edges thereof with the longitudinal offstanding guideflanges 4, which are slidably engaged by the pendent side flanges 5, depending from the longitudinal side edges of the table 3, and as said anges 5 engage the outer edges of the guide-flanges 4 of the base lateral displacement or movement of the slide-table is prevented. To obviate vertical displacement or movement of the table, the pendent side flanges 5 of the table have fitted to their lower edges the inwardly-projecting retaining-plates 6, which slidably engage beneath the guide-flanges 4 of the base. It will thus be seen that the Work-holding table has a rm interlocking connection with the top portion of the base, while at the same time being free to slide in a longitudinal direction thereon.

To facilitate the easy reciprocation of the work-holding table 3, a plurality of verticallydisposed supporting-rollers 7 are interposed IOC) between the under side of t-he table and the top portion of the stationary base 1. The said supporting-rollers 7 are preferably arranged contiguous to the longitudinal side edges of the work-holding table and have their peripheries travel in the longitudinallydisposed guide-grooves 8, formed in the opposing faces of the table and the top portion of the base, as plainly illustrated in Fig. 4of the drawings.

The slidable work-holding table 3 is arranged in a horizontal position and is preferably provided on the upper side thereof with a plurality of longitudinally-disposed parallel ribs 9, the upper surfaces of all of which ribs lie in the same horizontal plane to form a flat rest-surface for the metal plate to be doubled or folded, and by reason of the ribbed formation of the upperside of the work-holding table it is possible to obtain a practically uniform or flat rest-surface that will not be distorted by a warping of the plate or casting of which the table is formed. Furthermore, the grooves or depressions formed between the ribs 9 at one end of the table assist in providing means for properly directing the double plate to the shearing-machine in the manner to be presently explained.

To provide for the longitudinal movement or adjustment of the work-holding table 3, the same is provided at its under side with a longitudinally-disposed rack-section 10,which is engaged by the teeth of an adjusting-gear 11, mounted on a horizontal adjusting-shaft 12, journaled transversely of the machinebase 1 and having fitted on one extremity, at one side of the base, an operating lever or handle 13, which when manipulated provides for sliding the table on the base in either direction.

At a point intermediate its ends the slidable work-holding table 3 is provided with a solid transverse bearing web or block 14, which interrupts the continuity of the ribs 9, but has the upper surface thereof tiush with the surfaces of said ribs to form a part of the horizontal flat rest-surface for the metal plate to be doubled, and said solid bearin g web or block 14 also provides a clamping-su rface for the plate which is held between the table and the reciprocatory creasing-bar 15, arranged to work transversely of the table above the intermediate web or block portion 14 thereof. The creasing-bar 15 is fla-t upon its sides and arranged to work in a plane close to and parallel with the upper rest-surface of the work-holding table, and at one longitudinal side edge the said bar is beveled, as

indicated at 1G, to form a fulcrum edge upon which the metal plate is folded or doubled, the crease-line in the plate being produced by said fulcrum edge 16 as the plate is folded over the creasing-bar. Upon the longitudinal edge opposite the fulcrum edge 16 the creasing-bar l5 is formed with a continuous series of rack-teeth 17, and said bar is properly guided in its reciprocatory movements and also held perfectly rigid in its operative position by means of the oppositely-located guide-boxes 18 and 19, arranged, respectively, at opposite side edges of the slidable workholding table and rigid therewith. Both of said guide-boxes 18 and 19 are provided with alined guide-openings 20, which receive the creasing-bar 15, and the portions of the creasing-bar which engage in the guide-openings when the bar is in its operative position are formed with wedge-surfaces 21,which engage' correspondingly-shaped walls 22 of the guideopenings 20. By reason of this construction the creasing-bar, when shot across the table to its operative position, will be forced by the contacting wedge-surfaces 21 and 22 in a downward direction, thereby being caused to clamp firmly upon the met-al plate and hold t-he same tight upon the table during the doubling operation.

rlhe guide-box 18 for the creasing-bar 15, which is located at one side edge of the slidable work-holding table, is provided with an ostanding upwardly-disposed guide yoke or bracket 23, which slidably receives the rackbar 24. This rack-bar meshes with a horizontal pinion 25, mounted on the upper end of a short vertically-disposed shaft 26, journaled in a bearing 27, fitted to one side of the work-holding table, and said shaft also has mounted thereon, below the plane of the pinion, a larger gear-wheel 28, which meshes with the rack or teeth of the reciprocatory creasing-bar 15, the relative size of the pinion 25 and gear 28 providing for a properly-speeded movement of the creasing-bar. The rackbar 24, which communicates motion to the creasing-bar through the medium of the gearing described, is connected with the Huidpressure-controlled piston 29, arranged for reciprocation within a hydraulic-pressure cylinder 30, which is arranged above and coupled with a larger similar cylinder 3l, but has no communication with said latter cylinder. The said cylinders 30 and 31 are preferably arranged one above the other and are supported by a common bracket 32, rigidly fastened at one corner of the work-holding table, so that the cylinders and the mechanism cooperating therewith will be movable with the table.

Each of the hydraulic-pressure cylinders 30 and 31 is provided with the usual feed and exhaust ports 33 and 34, respectively, communicating with a valve-chest 35, arranged at one side of the same, which valve-chest has coupled thereto a supply-pipe 36 for the fluid, while the exhaust-port 34 isin communication with an exhaust-pipe 37. Those features of construction are similar to the corresponding features found in ordinary steamcylinders and the like; but in the presentinvention it is preferred to use water under pressure to provide for the reciprocation of the pistons in their respective cylinders, and to secure the passage of water alternately into opposite ends of each cylinder each of the IOO IIC

valve-chests 35 has arranged therein an ordinary slide-valve 3S, provided with an offstauding yoke 39, receiving therein an adjusting eccentric or cam 40, which when turned in either direction provides for a corresponding reciprocation of the valve.

Independent means are employed for adj usting the controlling or slide valve of each cylinder. The adjusting eccentric or cam 40 for the valve of the upper cylinder 30 is mounted on the inner end of a rock-shaft 41, arranged transversely of the Work-holding table, beyond one end thereof, and supported by a bracket 42, projected from one end of the table at a point opposite the cylinder, and at the end opposite its connection with the eccentric or cam 40 the rock-shaft 41 is provided with a crank-handle 43, whereby the shaft may be readily turned to shift the valve for the upper cylinder in either direction. To provide for the adjustment of the valve for the lower cylinder 31, avertical rock-shaft 44 is employed. The lower end of this rock-shaft 44 connects with the eccentric or cam 40 Within the valve-chest for the lowercylinder, and the upper end of said shaft 44 has a crank-arm connection 45 with a reciprocatory shifting rod 46,also supported by the bracket 42 and provided with spaced stoppins 47, engaging, respectively, at opposite sides of said bracket. The said shift-ing rod or bar 46 is also provided with an operatinghandle 48 at the end opposite its connection with the upper end of the rock-shaft 44.

The upper hydraulic-pressure mechanism, of which the upper cylinder 30 forms a part, provides means for reciprocating the creasin g-bar l5,while the lower hydraulicpressure mechanism, of which the lower cylinder 3l forms a part, provides means, through the medium of the connections to be presently described,for swinging or oscillating the folding-leaf 49 of the machine. The folding-leaf 49 consists of a flat rectangular plate of substantially the Width of the plate to be folded and which when in its inactive position registers flush within the depressed leaf-seat 50,

formed in the upper rest-surface of the workholding table, so that when lying within said seat 50 the upper flat surface of the foldingleaf is perfectly flush with said upper restsurface of the table, so that the plate to be folded can be placed perfectly flat upon the table prior to being clamped in position by shooting the creasing-bar l5 across the same in the manner explained.

The folding-leaf 49 is fastened at one edge to an oscillatory shaft 51, arranged transversely of the work-holding tablek contiguous to and at one side of the plane of the creasing-bar 15, said shaft being provided at its terminals beyond the side edges of the folding-leaf with trunnions 52, journaled in bearings 53, fitted to the upper side of the table, at opposite side edges thereof. One of the shaft extremities or trunnions of the leafcarrying shaft 51 has mounted thereon a halfgear 54, which meshes with a similar gear 55, fitted to a short horizontally-arranged stubshaft 56, journaled in a suitable bearing 57, also fitted to the work-holding table. At one side of the half-gear 55 the shaft 56 has mounted thereon a spur-gear 58, which meshes with a rack-bar 59, supported at one side of the Work-holding table and joined to the pistonrod of the piston 60, working Within the lower cylinder 3l.

The plate to be doubled is properly centered upon the work-holding table by means of a pair of oppositely-located centering-pins 61 and 62, respectively, which project above the plane of the table beyond opposite ends thereof. The centering-pins 61 and 62 are respectively carried by the oppositely-arranged slide-bars 63 and 64, supported in suitable guides beneath the work-holding table and each provided with a short rack-section 66. The slide-bars 63 and 64 are respectively arranged one above the other in different parallel planes, so as to dispose their rack portions 66 in the same vertical plane,`and between the rack portions of the two slide-bars is interposed an adjusting-pinion 67, mounted on a shaft 68, journaled transversely of the work-holding table and carrying upon one end, at the outer side of the table, a crankhandle 69, which is manipulated to provide for reciprocating the slide-bars 63 and 64 simultaneously in opposite directions when adjusting or centering the metal plate upon the table. The oppositely-located centering-pins 6l and 62 are equidistant from the fulcrum edge 16 of the creasing-bar, so that when the two pins 6l and 62 are simultaneously drawn toward each other by a proper movement of the adjusting-shaft 68 the opposite ends ofthe plate will be engaged by the pins, so that the plate will be accurately centered on the table in proper position for being doubled or folded upon the bar 15. At this point it is to be noted that the upper slide-bar 63, carrying the centering-pin 61, is provided at its outer end with a pivotal drop member 70, to which the pin 6l is fitted; but said pivotal drop member is normally sustained in alinement with the main port-ion of the slide-bar by resting upon the supportingroller 7l, mounted in a bracket 72, fitted to the upper side of the machine-base, at one end thereof.

In the operation of the machine it Will be understood that normally the folding-leaf 49 lies flush within the depressed seat 50 in the upper surface of the work-holding table and the creasing-bar 15 is withdrawn from its operativey position above and across the table. With the parts thus positioned the metal plate to be doubled is placed upon the table and the centering-pins 61 and 62 drawn toward each other to provide for properly centering the plate, after which the controllingvalve for the upper cylinder 30 is shifted, so as to admit water under pressure at one side of the piston 29 and cause the latter to move IOO IIO

in a direction for sliding the rack-bar 24 toward the cylinder. This movement of the rack-bar turns the pinion and gear 25 and 2S in a direction that causes the creasing-bar l5 to slide transversely across the table and to clamp upon the metal plate thereon in the manner previously explained. The next step in the operation is to open the controllingvalve for the lower cylinder 31, so that water will be admitted at one side of the piston 60 and move the rack-bar 59 in an outward direction, which movement of the rack-bar operates the gears 58, 55, and 54 to provide for swinging the folding-leaf 49 upon its axis or shaft 51 through the arc of a half-circle, or one hundred and eighty degrees, completely over the creasing-bar 15, thus causing the metal plate to be creased upon the fnlcrum edge 1G of the creasing-bar and doubled upon itself over such bar. lVithout changing or adjusting any of the operating parts of the machine the adjusting-shaft l2 is operated to slide the table, with the double plate thereon, in a direction toward the shearing-machine 7 3, having the usual fixed and movable shear-blades 74 and 75. The shearing-machine is arranged beyond one end of the doubling-machine and preferably has extended from the backing for the stationary blade 74 straight guard-arms 76, which are received in the grooves or depressions at one end of the table and will prevent the ends of the folded sheet, overhanging this end of the table, from bending down below the operative plane of the shears while such ends of the plate are being carried between thc shear-blades by the movement of the table. As the work-holding table, with the double plate thereon, is moved toward the shearing-machine the pivot of the pivotal drop member 70, carrying the centering-pin 61, passes beyond the supporting-roller 7l, and thereby permits the said pivotal drop member to drop down out of the way to the position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and thereby permit the ends of the plates to be carried between the shearblades. Of course when the tableis adjusted back to its original position the pivotal drop member 70 straightens upon its su pporting-roller 7l. After the ends or edges of the doubled sheet are trimmed in the shearing-machine the controlling-valves of the separate fluid pressure mechanisms are respectively operated to swing the folding-leaf back to its normal position and withdraw the creasing-bar from the fold of the sheet, thereby releasing the latter for further treatment or handling.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described machine will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be further understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a doubling-machine, a table, a longitudinally-slidable creasing-bar arranged to move transversely of the' table, means for projecting said bar across the table, and retracting it to a position at one side of the latter, separate means for causing said bar to clamp upon the work simultaneously with its longitudinal movement,and a single swinging folding-leaf pivotally supported at one side and independently of the creasing-bar, and adapted to swing. completely over the latter, substantially as set forth.

2. In a doubling-machine, a table, a creasing-bar arranged transversely of the table, means for longitudinally sliding the creasingbar into and out of operative position, independent means for causing the said bar to clamp upon the work simultaneously with its longitudinal movement, and means carried by the table for swinging one-half of the plate over the creasing-bar, substantially as set forth.

3. In a doubling-machine, a table having wedge surfaces, a reciprocatory creasing-bar also having wedge surfaces cooperating with those of the table, to provide means for causing said bar to clamp upon the work, and means carried by the table for folding the plate over said bar, substantially as set forth.

4. In a doubling-machine, a table, having oppositely -located guide boxes, a slidable creasing-bar arranged transversely of the table, and having a wedging engagement with the guide-boxes to cause it to clamp upon the work, and means, carried by the table, for folding lthe plate over said bar, substantially as set forth.

IOO

5. In a doublingmachine, a table having l oppositely-located guide-boxes having guideopenings whose Walls are formed with Wedge surfaces, a creasing-bar arranged above and transversely of the table and formed with wed ge surfaces engaging the correspondinglyshaped walls of the guide-openings,and means, carried by the table, for folding the plate over said bar, substantially as set forth.

6. In a doubling-machine, a table, a movable creasing-bar cooperating with the table and having a rack, a shaft geared with the rack of the creasing-bar, fluid-pressure mechanism having a reciprocating piston carrying a rack-bar geared with said shaft, and means carried by the table for folding the metal plate over said creasing-bar, substantially as set forth.

7. In a doubling-machine, a table, a reciprocatorycreasing-bar Working above the table, a folding-leaf arranged to swing over the creasing-bar and having an oscillatory shaft, Huidpressure mechanisms having a common support at one end of the table, each of said IIO mechanisms having a reciprocatory piston operatively connected with the creasing-bar and the oscillatory shaft respectively, and a separate controlling-valve for each of the pressure mechanisms, substantially as set forth.

8. In a doubling-machine, a table vhaving guides, a reciprocatory creasing-bar arranged transversely above the table and Working in said guides, said creasing-bar having a rack extending longitudinally thereof, a shaft geared with the rack of the creasing-bar, fluid-pressure mechanism supported by the table and having a'reciprocating piston, a rack-bar connected with said piston and geared With said shaft to provide for reciprocating the creasing-bar, and means, carried by the table, for folding the metal plate over said creasing-bar, substantially as set forth.

9. In a doubling-machine, a table, a creasing-bar supported transversely of the table, means for longitudinally sliding the bar entirely across the table, a transversely-arranged oscillatory shaft supported on the table at one side of and parallel to the creasing-bar, fluid-pressure mechanism supported by the table and having a reciprocating piston, a rack-bar connected with said piston and geared with said oscillatory shaft, and a flat swinging folding-leaf seated at one edge in the oscillatory shaft and movable therewith, substantially as set forth.

lO. In a doubling-machine, a table, a reciprocatory creasing bar arranged transversely of the table, a folding-leaf arranged to swing over the creasing-bar and having an oscillatory shaft, Huid-pressure mechanisms having a common support at one end of the table, each of said mechanisms having a reciprocatory piston, a separate controllingvalve for each of the pressure mechanisms, and a rack-bar connected with the piston of each mechanism, one of said rack-bars being geared with the creasing-bar to reciprocate the latter, and the other of said rack-bars being geared with the oscillatory shaft of the folding-leaf, substantially as set forth.

I1. In a doubling-machine, a table provided on its upp'er side with a plurality of longitudinally-disposed, parallel ribs whose upper surfaces lie in the saine horizontal plane to form a fiat rest-surface, said table being further provided with a solid transverse Web interruptin g the ribs, a longitudinally-movable creasing-bar arranged transversely of the table and adapted to Work over the web thereof, and a swinging folding-leaf coperating with said bar, substantially as set forth.

1-2. In a doubling-machine, the combination with a table carrying the doubling mechanism, of a pair of reciprocating bars slidably mounted beneath the table and having at their inner ends rack portions arranged in the same vertical plane, and a suitably-operated pinion interposed between and meshing with the inner rack portions of said bars, and centering-pins fitted to the outer ends of said bars and projecting above the plane of the table respectively at opposite ends thereof, substantially as set forth.

13. In a doubling-machine, the base, a table slidably mounted on said base and carrying doubling mechanism, reciprocating slidebars mounted beneath the table and carrying centering-pins projecting above the plane of the table respectively at opposite ends thereof, means for adjusting said pins in unison and separate means for moving the sliding table to carry the doubled plate to the shearing-machine, substantially as set forth.

I4. In a doubling-machine, the base, a table slidably mounted on the base and carrying doubling mechanism, and means for moving said table to carry the doubled plate to the shearing-machine, substantially as set forth.

I5. In a doubling-machine, the base, a table slidably mounted on said base and carrying doubling mechanism, reciprocating slidebars mounted beneath the table and carrying centering-pins, one of said slide-bars being provided at its outer end with a pivotal drop member supporting the centering-pin, asupporting-roller arranged on the base to normally sustain said pivotal drop member, and adjusting means for the table, substantially as set forth.

16. In a doubling-machine, the combination with the shearing-machine, and guardarms extended from the backing for the stationary blade thereof; of a reciprocatory table carrying doubling mechanism and having grooves or depressions receiving said guardarms, whereby the folded plate may be accurately carried to the shearing-machine, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

RALPH REED SPEARS.

Witnesses:

FRANK H. GRAFTON, D. Z. PHILLIPS.

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